Internships and Work Abroad

Do you want to gain professional experience by interning or working abroad? Here are some places to begin exploring work and internship abroad options. If you have questions regarding the process of working or interning abroad, please visit with a BBA International Programs Coordinator and a BBA Career Services Advisor.

Internships Abroad

McCombs undergraduate students interested in studying abroad in Australia, Chile, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain, and Thailand also have an opportunity to pursue an internship experience while they are overseas. Some schools and programs offer pre-approved BBA internship credit, while others offer business internship opportunities during or after a student’s study abroad semester. It is important to keep your Career Services advisor informed on your internship options and to seek BBA internship approval for any international internship that you may be interested in.

Pre-Approved BBA Internships

Mexico: ITESM - All three locations, Monterrey, Estado de Mexico, and Queretaro, offer internships with an internship class that works as the BBA internship class. Students are eligible if participating on the BBA exchange to ITESM. The internship application requires a transcript, two passport-sized photos, a resume in English and Spanish, a short essay about the field in which you would like to work, a letter of recommendation from a professor (you can use the same recommendation that is submitted for your UT study abroad application), and US $100 admission fee. Learn more.

Spain: CIEE Seville Business and Society Program - A combined study abroad and internship program during fall or spring semester available through the affiliated study abroad provider, CIEE. Interested students should contact an advisor from the UT Study Abroad Office.

Students on the CIEE program: live with a host family in Seville; take an intensive Spanish for Business class; enroll in 12 credit hours among mostly MKT, FIN, MAN, ECO, IB, OM and SPN classes, receive assistance in preparing a resume and cover letter in Spanish; research participating companies and positions available; and attend an internship fair where company representatives interview students in Spanish. Internships are unpaid. The better the student’s Spanish skills, the more options they will have. Learn more.

Thailand: Thammasat University - This is an exclusive internship opportunity for McCombs students! The finance-only internship opportunity is quite flexible, and considered on a case-by-case basis. Junior or senior finance majors studying abroad through the BBA exchange at Thammasat University are eligible to apply. This 3-credit-hour course requires 200 internship hours -- quite a huge commitment, but amazing experience!! It may work best for seniors who have fulfilled all coursework at school, yet plan to gain a real-life working experience before graduation. However, participants can definitely choose to take other BBA and non-BBA courses (i.e., Thai language, Thai culture, etc.), if their schedules allow. You need to submit a CV (resume) and a statement of purpose specifically addressing an area(s) of finance in which you are interested. All application materials are due 4 months in advance, so planning well ahead is required. Learn more.

Additional Internships at BBA Exchange Partner Universities

Australia: University of New South Wales - The UNSW Study Abroad Office organizes internships for international exchange students; however, participants must pay a separate charge of $1,800 Australian dollars. Exchange students can also use the Careers and Employment Office to find alternate internships once they are matriculated at UNSW. Learn More.

Australia: Australian National University - Full time internships are available as a stand-alone program or after a student’s exchange semester, through the Australian National Internships Program. Learn more.

Chile: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile - Exchange students can use the Career Services Placement Office to find an internship once they are registered at PUC.

Germany: WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management - Exchange students can use the Career Services Placement Office to find an internship once they are registered at WHU for the semester. Learn more.

Italy: Universita Commerciale Luigi Bocconi - Full time internships are available to follow an exchange semester. Students can apply after their arrival in Bocconi through the Career Service office. Learn more.

Other Internship Resources

Work Abroad Resources

While most exchange students have no problem with their housing situation, there have been some less than ideal situations. The Village at Riverside apartment complex has not been recommended by previous exchange students, or the management company Ely Properties. Complaints are made every time exchange students live in these options so please take your colleagues’ advice.

Please research these organizations carefully. Also note restrictions such as not being allowed to study and work simultaneously or work visa requirements for foreign nationals.

Organizations

Alliance Abroad - Alliance Abroad offers customized internship, work, teach and training programs for students and graduates outside of the United States.

AIESEC - AIESEC provides employment opportunities abroad for students. Through their international traineeship exchanges, they offer practical learning experiences in more than 80 countries around the world. There is also an AIESEC chapter in Austin.

BUNAC - The British Universities North American Club will grant you a work visa which will allow you to search for work in a specific country, with or without a job offer. BUNAC has programs of varying lengths in countries such as Australia, Britain, Ireland, and New Zealand.

CIEE - The CIEE program offers opportunities to teach in locations such as Chile, China, Spain, and Thailand, and Spain, France, and Germany.

CDS International - CDS administers programs ranging in duration from three to 18 months, that include an internship component, and some have academic or language training elements as well. The variety of program formats enables you to choose the one that best fits your skills and requirements. Primary country destinations are Germany, Argentina, Spain, Switzerland and Russia.

EUSA - European Study Abroad - EUSA and the UT Center for Global Educational Opportunities provide summer internship possibilities in London in virtually all professional fields. Contact the UT Study Abroad Office for more information.

InterExchange - InterExchange is a work-placement program that places you in a position and assists you with acquiring the work visa. Positions are available in a number of countries, including Australia, France, Germany, Spain and the UK.

Intrax Internships Abroad - A professional development program that provides students with summer internships in Paris, Berlin, London, Madrid, Barcelona, Tokyo, and recently added Santiago and Beijing. Past participants in our program have interned in finance, marketing, and non-profits at top companies like Microsoft,, Morningstar, Deutsche Telekom, and BBDO.

ProWorld - A mission-driven organization that offers internship programs in Belize, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, Ghana, India, and Thailand. Named the “Best Adventure Travel Company” by National Geographic, ProWorld has projects including Community Development, the Environment, Education, Health, Microfinance, and NGO Management.

The Peace Corps - If the idea of working in a typical business environment while abroad does not interest you, perhaps volunteer work or social service is an option for your time abroad. The Peace Corps sends individuals to work in emerging and essential areas such as teaching, information technology and business development in over 100 countries worldwide. To learn more, you can meet with the Peace Corps recruiter located at UT’s International Office.

SCI-IVS - Civil Service International puts together summer Workcamps both overseas and in the U.S.

Uniworld Database - The Uniworld Database publishes contact directories for multinational businesses, to find U.S. firms operating overseas and foreign firms operating in the U.S. The entire directory can be purchased or you can buy only the results of a specific search.

U.S. Department of State - The U.S. Department of State has various summer internship opportunities available, for all backgrounds and majors. Overseas posting is possible! The application is on-line; U.S. citizenship is required.

UT Austin, Career Exploration Center - The Career Exploration Center assists undergraduate and graduate students in the exploration and clarification of their majors and careers. We are committed to providing student-centered counseling, assessments, education programs, on-site and on-line resources that empower students in the pursuit of their career goals.

Unpacking Your Study Abroad Experience

The "Unpacking: I Studied Abroad. Will It Get Me a Job?" four-part video demonstrates how students can leverage their study abroad experience when interviewing with recruiters for internships or full-time positions. Study abroad alumni, study abroad advisors, academic advisors, and career services advisor talk about making the most out of their study abroad experience. Watch Fenny Jie, a SIP Summer Program participant, and Andrea Chytil, a McCombs academic advisor, "unpack" Fenny's study abroad experiences from the CIBER Edinburgh Program.